Type-writing machine.



No. 839,908. PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907'.

I 4 H. L. WAGNER.

TYPE'WRITING MACHINE. APPLIOATIION FILED JUNE 7, 1906.

No. 839,908. PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907.

. H. L. WAGNER.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE7. 1906.

Wig; I %W%% 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN L. WAGNER, 'OF MOUNT VERNON YORK. ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWRlTER COMPANY, CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

TYPE-I-WIIRIT'ING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

Application filed June 7, 1906. Serial No. 320.582.

To all whom it may coiwern:

Be it known that 'I, HERMAN L. WAGNER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type- Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

as to cause either the lower-case or capital its shifted position, and I also rov'ide a sectypes to print at will. In such mechanisms it is usual toprovide means for setting the" case-shift mechanism for writing capitals eX'- clusively, thereby, leaving both hands'of the .operator free to manipulate the keys, as in writing headings.

The pnncipal object of my invention is to' provide simple and effective means which may be readily adapted Ttoexisting types of machines for setting the case-shift mechanism for writing capitals and'improved means for temporarily returning the case-shift mechanismo. its initial or lower-case position for writing afew characters in the line of capitals.

In addition to thefinger-key, which isusually provided for shifting the platen or other shiftable part of a type-writing machine, I

provide a finger lever by which the platen.

may be shifted and mechanically detained in 0nd key which may be. operate to return the platen to normalpositiom where it stays so long as said second key is held depressed by the operator. This is a convenience in inserting punctuation-marks and occasional lower-case characters ina line of capital letters. Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. 1 In the accompanying drawings,- Figure 1 1 a sectionalelevation taken from frontto rear of an Underwoodfront-strike writingmachine, showing my improvements applied thereto, all of the parts being shown in normal positions. Fig.2 is a similar View showing the platen-shifting frame mechanically detained 'in shifted -.or upper-case position and also showing a type-bar in printingposition' Fig. 3 is a an of the principal portion of'the case-shi ting mechanism and also showing a key-lever and type-bar. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the platen-frame returned to lower-case position by means of a second shifting-key provided for that purpose anda lower-case type striking against the platen, 5 shows a fragment of a locking and shifting lever. Fig. 6 shows the normal position of the shift-key at the right-hand side of the keyboard.

Types'l bearing lower-case and capital types 2 3 strike rearwardly against the front side of a platen 4. The types are operated by elbow-levers 5, connected by pins 6 to levers 7, fulcrumed upon a rod 8 and bearing keys 9 on their forward ends. The platen 4 is mounted upon a frame, whereof a roll 10 runs upona rail 11. Said rail forms part of the shifting frame 12, which is hinged to the framework by means of a rod 13, whereby the rail 11 and the platen may be shifted ,up 'and down. When the platen is in its lower or normal position, the lower-case types2 upon the type-bars strike the same. When it is desired to write a sin le capitalletter, a -shift-key 14 is depressed, thereby forcing down a lever 15,,fulcrumed upon the rod 8 and having an arm 16, extending upwardly over said fulcrum to bear against the rear edge of the shifting frame. Uponrelieving the key 14 from pressure the platen returns by gravity to normal position, together with the shifting frame.

Upon the lower end of the arm 17 is pro- ,videda projecting pin 18 to engage a notch 19, formed in the rear end of a lever 20, fulcrumed at 21 upon the framework, whereby the shifting frame is locked against accident'al'movement from lower-case position. Said shift-key 14 has means, however, to release' this look, said releasing means comprising a pin 22 on the lever '15 and a cam '23, fixed upona rock-shaft 24, having a part 25 to depress the forwardlend 26 of the lever 20, thereby lifting the notch 19 up from the locking-pin 18 at the initial part of the depressionof the shift-key 14, thus permitting the arm 17 to be rocked forward by the arm 16. A finger-piece 27 is in the preferred form of my invention mounted upon the forward 29 upon a fixedbracket 30, said bell-crankhaving an arm 31 to bear downupon the end of a bell-crank or lever 28, pivoted at ooked at 35 in a notch 36, formed in the rear portion of said locking-lever 20. Said spring 34 is normally ,untensioned or silenced and hangs loosely in the notch 36, but upon depressing the finger-piece 27 the upper end of scope of the invention and the spring is drawn up, thereby tensioning the same and causing it to pull up the lever 20, Fig. 2. The latter lever is provided at its rear end with a cam edge 37, which engages the pin 18'0n the shifting frame and cams the same forwardly,

the rail 11 on the platen, as shown at said Fig. 2. A notch 38 is'fprovided in said lever 32 to receive the tip 0 .the arm 31, .whereby the members are mechanically maintained in the Fig. 2 position, the spring 34 holding the arm 31 in the notch 38. Thus both hands of the operator are free to manipulate the keys for writing ital letters.

' If while the case-shifting mechanism is set to the Fig. 2 position it is desired to lower the platen to rint one or more lower-case characters, a ey 39 is ressed down, said key being preferably at t e rear of the keyboard and mounted upon a lever 40, fulcrumed upon the rod 8 and having a link 41 to connect it to the shifting frame12, the link being pivoted to the lever at .42 and having at its upper end a slot 43 to en age-a in 44 upon the shifting frame. "The s 0t 43 fgrms a loose connection of the link to the shifting frame a line or heading of capso that the latter may rise from the Fig. 1

position independently of the link, while a de ression of the lever 40 enables the link to pul the shifting frame back to lower-case position, Fig. 4, thus forcing the arm 17 ackwardly and causing the pin 18 thereon to slide rearwardl along the cam 37, thereby forcing down the ever 20 against the tension of thespring 34, as seen at Fig. 4, the parts remaini in this position as long as the key 39 is. hel down by the operator, and upon relieving said key from pressure the spring 34 pulls up the lever 20 and returns the .parts to the Fi 2 position. While the platen is held down, as at Fig. 4, lower case characters may be printed.

In said Underwood machine there'is usually provided a special shift-key 45 tocooperate with a hook 46, which is fixed-upon the rock-shaft 24, so that when said key 45 is pressed down the lever 20 to release the'pin 18 and is then'released an d restored to normal position by aspring 47, thereby causing a notch 48 in said lever 20 to engage the pin 18 and lock the shifting frame in upper-case position, this look being released by merely depressing the key 14, which again vibrates the lever 20. If it is desired, this'key 45 may be retained in the machine for occasional use when Writing thereby elevating to lock said'frame ineit is first vibrated Variations may be resorted to within the portions of the implrovements may be'used without others. aving thus described my invention,I

claim- 1. Ina case-shifting mechanism for a type- Writin machine, the combination of a frame to be s liifted, a projection upon said frame, a lever having locks to en age said projection to lock said frame in. eit erof its shift positions, a key at the keyboard having means'to release the locks and throw saidshifting frame, a normally idle spring 'conn ected to said lever, a handle provided with means for tensioning-said spring, so that it vibrates said lppking-lever,' the latter having a cam to en} age said projection and throw said shiftiname during the action of said sprin an means being provided for mechanically atch-' ing said handle to maintain said spring in a tensioned positiom 2. In a case-shifting mechanism for a type,-- I

Writin" machine, the combination of a frame to be fiuifted, a projection upon said frame, a lever having locks to B11 age said projection er of. its shift positions, a key at the keyboard having means to release the locks and throw said shifting idle spring connected to said lever, a handle provided with 'means'for frame, a normally tensioning said spring, so that it vibrates said locking-lever, the latter having a cam ,to entgrage said projection and throw said shifting ame during the action of said sprin means being provi ed forrnechanicallylatc ngsaid han ie to maintain said-spring in ate'nsioned position, and a second shift-key at the keyoard provided: with means whereby it may return said shifting frame to initial position against thetension of said spring.

' 3. In a case-shifting mechanism for a type:

writin machine, the combination of a frame to be s 'ft ed, a projection upon said frame, a

leverhaving locks to en age said projection to lock-said frame in eit tions, a keyat the keyboard having means to release the locks and throw said shifting frame, a normally idle spring connected to said lever, a handle provided with means for tensioning said spring, so that it vibrates said locking-lever, the latter having a cam to enigrage said projection and throw said shifting ame during the action of said spring, means er of its shift posiein provided for mechanically latchingsaid handle to maintain said spring in a t'ensioned position, and a second shift-key at the keyboard provided with means whereby it may return said shifting frame to initial position With means for shifting said frame, a norwritinglmachine, the combination of a frame tending from-the last-mentioned lever to said be thrown'inde endently 0f the link.

'tion and a second key at the keyboard spring which is normall j by said key, and a second key'having means for returning the frame to initial position against the tension of said spring.

9. In a case-shifting mechanism for a t Writin against the tension of said spring; said frame being shiftable by said spring While the firstmentioned key remains stationary; and the frame being also shiftable by the first-mentioned key While the second keyremains stationary.

4. Ina case-shifting mechanism for a type- Writing machine, the combination of a frame to be shifted, a key at the keyboard provided with means for shifting said frame, a normally idle and relaxed spring connected to said frame, and a handle at the keyboard for tensioning said spring and causing it to throw said shifting frame.

5. In a case-shifting mechanism for a type- Writing machine, the combination of aframe to be shifted, a key at the keyboard provided 6- machine, the combination of a fr d ie to be s ifted, a key for shifting said frame, a spring Which is normally silenced, means forcausing said sprin to shift said frame in the same manner in W 'ch the frame is shiftable by said key, and a second key haying means for returning the frame to initial position against the tension of said spring; the latter being effective upon the release of said second keyfrom pressure to return said frame to its shifted position.

10. In a case-shifting mechanism for a type-Writing machine, the combination of a frame to be shifted, a key for shifting said frame, a spring connected to said frame, but norm ally ineffective to shift the latter, a fingerpiece having means for rendering said spring effective to shift said'frame, a latch for holding said spring in effective condition, and a second key having means for returning the frame to initial position against the tension of said spring.

11. In a case-shifting mechanism for a mally idle spring connected to said frame, a handleat the keyboad for causing said spring to throw said shifting frame, and a'key at the keyboard, which is normally silenced, but which is provided With means for returning said shifting frame to normal position against the tension of said spring.

6. In a case-shifting mechanism for a type- Writing machine, the combination of a frame to be shifted, a key at the keyboard having means to shift said frame, a handle at the keyboard having means to shift said frame independently of said key, means mechanically detaining said handle in Working posiaving shifting frame to handle remains in frame to be shifted, a spring normally silenced during the shifting of said frame, a finger-piece having means to put said spring under tension, and means being provided for enabling the spring to detain the finger-piece in its depressed position, means for enabling the sprin when tensioned by said finermeans for returning said initial position, While said Working position.

7. Inacase-shifting mechanism foratypeor returning said shifting frame to initial position against the tension of said spring,

12. In a case-shifting mechanism for a type-Writing machine, the combination of a frame to be shifted, a spring normally silenced during the shifting of said frame, a finger-piece havin means to put said spring under tension, an means beingprovidedfor enabling the spring in its depressed position, means for ena ling the sprin when tensioned by said fingerpiece to s it said shiftin frame, and a keylever having a link which said shifting frame to enable the lever to return the latter to initial position.

13. In a caseshiftin mechanism for a type-Writing machine, the combination of a frame to be shifted, a key-operated lever having means to shift said frame, a spring connected tosaid frame but normally silenced and relaxed during the operations of said lever, and a finger-piece having means to put said spring under tension, and' cause the spring to operate said lever to shift said to he s 'fted, a projection upon said frame, a lever having locks to en age said projection to lock said frame in either of its shift posi tions, a key at the keyboard having means to vibrate said lever to release the locks, and also having means to throw said shifting frame, a normally idle spring connected to said lever, a lever for tensioning said spring, a handle at the keyboard having a projection to engage said tensiomng-lever for vibrating the same to tension said spring, said tensioning-lever' having a notch to engage the projection on said handle for detaining it in Working position, a second key at the keyboard mounted upon a lever, and a link exshifting frame for returning the same to normal position against the tension of said spring; said link having a loose connection to said shifting frame to enable the latter to 8. In a case-s fting mechani for atype- Writin machine, the combination of a frame frame. j to be sfiiifted, a key for shifting said frame, a 14. In a case-shifting mechanism for a silenced, meansfor type-Writing machine, the combination of a causing said sprin to s ft said frame in the frame to be shifted, a key0perat.ed leverhav same manner 1n w 'ch the frame is shiftable ing means to shift said frame, a spring contype-writing machine, the combination of a to detain the fingeriece iece to s ft said shifting frame, and a ey as a connection to nected to said frame but normally silenced {shifting frame against the I tension of said dnring' the operations of said lever, a fingerpiece 1 tension, and thereby cause the spring to operate said lever to shift said frame, and a second key having means to shift said frame against the tension of said spring.

15. In a case-shifting mechanism for a type-writing machine, the combination of a frame to be shifted, a key-operated lever having means. to shift said name, a finger-piece, 'a second lever controlled by said finger-piece,

a spring extending, from one of said levers tothe other and extensible bymeans of the operation of said finger-.piece', so as to shift said frame. 7 I

' 16.. In a case-shifting mechanism for a type-Writing machine, the cbinbination of a frame to be shifted, a'key-operated lever having'means to shift said frame, a finger-piece, a second lever controlled by said finger-piece, a springextending from one of said levers to the other and extensible by means of the operation of said finger-piece,.soas to shift said;

frame, and. a second key having means to shift said frame-against the tension of said spring. I

"17.;In a case shifting mechanism for a type-Writing machine, the combination of a frame to'be shifted, a key-operated lever having means to shift said frame, a finger pie'ce,

a second lever controlled by said'fingenpiece, a spring extending from one of said levers to the other and extensible by means of'the op- Y eration of said finger-piece, so as to shiftsaid I frame, and a second-key having means to shift said'frame against the tension of said spring; means-being controlled by said finger-piece for mechanically maintaining said spring in a tensioned condition.

18. In a case-shifting mechanism. for a type writing machine, the combination with a frame to be, shifted, aleverliaving means for lockin said frame against accidental shifting, a ey for operating said lever to release the locking means, means independent of said lever and operated by said key for shiftin said frame, a normally silenced springIoosely connected tosaid lever, .a finger-piece having means oput'said spring under tension, and a cam upon said lever for enabling said spring to shiftsaid frame.

19; In a case+shifting mechanismfor a type-Writin machine, the combinationwith a frame to 'esl'iifted, a lever having means for l'ockin said frame against-accidental shifting, a" ey forioperating said lever torelease the l'ocking'means, means independent of said leverand operated by saidflkey for shifting said frame, a normally silenced spring looselyconne'cted to said'lever, a 1511- ger-piece having-'meansto put saidspring aving means to put said spring under rendered effective by spring.

20. In a case-shifting mechanism for a type-Writing machine, the combination of a frame'to be shifted, a lever formed with locking-notc'hes and also with a cam, said frame having an arm provided with a projection for cooperating with said notches and said cam, a key having means to operate said lever to release the frame from one of said lockingnotches, and also having means independent of said lever for shifting said frame,a spring connected to said frame but normally silenced, a finger piece having means for putting said spring under tension and causing the same to operate said lever to shift said frame by means of said cam, means operated by said finger-piece for mechanically maintaining said spring in a tensioned GOnClb tlon, and a second key havin means for re turning'sald frame to normal pos tion, and

causing it to cam said lever against the ten sionof said spring.

' 2].. In a case-shifting mechanism for a type-writing machine, the combination with aframe to be shifted, of take means operated thereby for shifting said frame from lower-case to capital position and holding the frame in its shifted position, a separate finger-piece, means controlled by said fingerpiece .forsettin said frame to capital position and mechanicallydetainingit there, a

second key normally silenced, and means rendered effective by the-frame-setting operation of said fliiger piece, for-enabling the second key to return the 'ffameJ-to normal position.

22. -In -'a case-shifting mechanism for a type-Writing machine, the combination'of a fingerp1ece, means operated thereby for shifting said frame to capital position, means the operation of said finger-piece mec framem capital position, a normally-silenced key, and means rendered effective by the frame-shifting movement of said finger-piece,

for enabling said key to return said-frame to normal position.

23. In a case-shifting 'mechanism for a type-Writing machine, the combmat onwith ani'cally detaining the a frame to be shifted, of a finger-piece,- means for enabling said finger-piece to shift sa d frame-to capital iposition, means rendered effective fbytn'e said finger-piece for mechanically dctaimng the frame in capital position, a normally s1- lenced key,and means also rendered effective bythefframe-shifting movement of said fingerpiece,- for enabling said key to return -saicl'frame to normal position.

HERMAN L. WAGNER.

Witnesses B. C. S'rrcKNEY, Krrrm FR NK-FORT.

ame-shifting operation of. 

